Some Biological Properties of Curcumin: A Review

Abstract

Curcumin (diferuloyl methane), a small-molecular weight compound isolated from the roots of Curcuma longa L. (family Zingiberaceae), has been used traditionally for centuries in Asia for medicinal, culinary and other purposes. A large number of in vitro and in vivo studies in both animals and man have indicated that curcumin has strong antioxidant, anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-angiogenic, antispasmodic, antimicrobial, anti-parasitic and other activities. The mechanisms of some of these actions have recently been intensively investigated. Curcumin inhibits the promotion/ progression stage of carcinogenesis by induction of apoptosis and the arrest of cancer cells in the S, G2/M cell cycle phase. The compound inhibits the activity of growth factor receptors. The anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin are mediated through their effects on cytokines, lipid mediators, eicosanoids and proteolytic enzymes. Curcumin scavenges the superoxide radical, hydrogen peroxide and nitric oxide, and inhibits lipid peroxidation. These actions may be the basis for many of its pharmacological and therapeutic properties. Curcumin is a nutraceutical of low toxicity, which has been used successfully in a number of medical conditions that include cataracts, cystic fibrosis, and prostate and colon cancers.

Effect of curcumin on the amyloid fibrillogenesis of hen egg-white lysozyme

“…Curcumin protects the brain from lipid peroxidation and serves as a free radical scavenger and an antioxidant [64][65][66][67][68][69][70]. In addition, curcumin has long been known to possess anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic activities [71][72][73][74]. It has been suggested that the chemopreventive activity of curcumin might be attributed to its ability to induce apoptosis [75][76][77].…”

The use of Turmeric (Curcuma longa) in poultry feed

“…Several studies have shown that curcumin has a strong capability for scavenging superoxide radicals, hydrogen peroxide and nitric oxide (NO) from activated macrophages, reducing iron complex and inhibiting lipid peroxidation (Ali et al, 2006;Gowda et al, 2009;Yarru et al, 2009). Curcumin is known to augment antioxidant status especially through SOD which could be due to the increased expression of SOD gene in the chickens fed Turmeric (Cheng et al, 2005).…”

“…Turmeric is considered to have low toxicity as revealed in human and animals trials (Ali et al, 2006). There are no reports of adverse effects of either Turmeric or its analogue, except in rare cases.…”

“…Gowda et al (2008) reported that addition of Turmeric in the broilers diet deceased necropsy lesion caused by aflatoxicosis. The basis of hepatoprotective action was suggested to be the antioxidant action of curcumin (Ali et al, 2006).…”

Acute effects of diesel exhaust particles and cisplatin on oxidative stress in cultured human kidney (HEK 293) cells, and the influence of curcumin thereon

“…Curcumin possesses a high antioxidant capacity by quenching free radicals generated as a result of various environmental insults and hence its therapeutic effects for either primary prevention or treatment of several human diseases (Ali et al, 2006;Esatbeyoglu et al, 2012). We have recently demonstrated that curcumin has an in vivo protective effect against DEP-induced cardiopulmonary adverse effects in mice (Nemmar et al, 2012a).…”